scope:

The intent of this recommended practice is to give information on the proper selection, operation and maintenance of subsurface pumps so the best economical life can be obtained.

The basic walking-beam sucker rod combination for producing fluids from the ground had its beginning in very early history. In more recent times, many advances in design and metallurgy have evolved. The method is so popular that today approximately 90 percent of all artificially lifted wells are produced by a sucker rod pump.

The downhole sucker rod pump is only one portion of the pumping system (see Figure 1). The other major components are the sucker rod string, the surface pumping unit and the prime mover. For proper pumping operation and long maintenance-free runs, all components of the system must be designed and sized properly, taking into account well depth, the amount and viscosity of fluids (oil, water or gas) to be produced, and abrasiveness and corrosiveness of fluids. A failure of any one of the pumping components will result in a shut down of the system, resulting in a costly repair, downtime and possible loss of production.